Flying-machine.



R. M. SMlTH.

FLYING MACHINE. "mamon meu 1AN.12.|915. nEnEwED mw 29. wxs.

1,288,721. Patented Dec. 24,1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REXFORD M. SMITH, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOB TO CON-NECTICUT AIRCRAFT COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

FLYING-MA CHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Original application led January 2, 1912, Serial No. 669,003. Dividedand this application led January 12, 1915, Serial No. 1,769. Renewed May29, 1918. Serial No. 287,370.

To Hic/1,0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Rnxronn M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented newand useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to lyin machines of that class in which themachine is supported in fiight by the dynamical reactions of the airupon one or more sustainin surfaces, and particularly to an improveconstruction of sustaining surface and flexible wing tips or balancingdevices, with means for controlling the same to maintain lateralstability, whereby certain advantages are gained in the control of themachine.

The present invention is a division of my prior application No. 669,003,filed on January 2, 1912, Patent No. 1128379, dated Feb. 16, 1915, andis directed particularly to the subject matter of the construction ofthe lower plane and associated balancing elements disclosed but notparticularly claimed in such prior application.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference beinhad to the accompanying drawings' forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective View of a hiplane sustaining sur ace, oneof the planes of which is provided with the improvements constituting myinvention; and

Figs, Q and 3 are views of the lower plane illustrating the balancingactions.

In the illustrated exem lication the invention is shown embodie in abiplane machine, although it is to be understood that it is not limitedthereto, as the essential features thereof may be employed with equalefficiency upon other types of multiplane machines or upon machines ofthe monoplane type.

Referring to the drawing 1 and 2 designate the upper and lowersupporting planes or surfaces of a biplane structure as disclosed, eachcomprising a pair of wings 3 and 4 spaced at their inner or proximateedges to provide a fore-and-aft air gap 5.

These gaps are arranged in the path of the air impelled upwardly anddownwardly and traveling rearwardly from the propeller, thus permittingthe disturbed air to have free vent through the supporting surfaces andpreventing the same from disturbing the air compressed by the wings,accumulating between the supporting surfaces and increasing the headresistance, or varying the angle of incidence or flying attitude of themachine.

The wings, which have a suitable foreand-aft lifting curvature, areformed of a fabric or other suitable material secured to a framestructure of proper character, the trail portions of the wings in rearof the dotted lines 6 being iiexible for a vertical vibratory airshedding action. The planes may be mounted upon the nacelle, fuselage ormain frame of the machine in any suitable manner and suitably securedand braced.

The wings of the supporting surfaces are symmetrically curved, and theflexible rear portions ofthe respective wings are bisected or divided ina fore-and-aft direction, as at 7, forming relatively rigid and flexibleinner and outer portions, which normally lie in alinement, the innerrigid portions 8 being vibratory only for an air shedding action, whilethe outer fiexible portions 9, 10, 9a and 10, which normally lie in theplane of and form a part of the supporting surface, are movablevertically for balancinil actions.

ach wing thus comprises a body having a rigid fore-portion and aiiexible rear portion, the latter consisting of an inner sectionnormally uncontrolled and adapted to iiex or vibrate under airpressures, and an outer section adapted to be positively controlled andadjusted to maintain the lateral balance of the machine. The ailerons,balancing planes or win tips 9 and 10 are capable of being exed downwardand only to a positive angle of incidence, and constitute no part of thepresent invention, while the wing tips, ailerons or balancing planes 9aand 10a are capable of being flexed upward only to a negative angle ofincidence and Lussem vertical axis. Furthermore, the balancing mechanismis sim lilied in construction and rendered more reliable and etlicientin action.

Having thus described my invention. I claim:

l. A supporting surface for flying machines comprising an aeroplanehavin a lifting curvature in a fore-and-aft directlon, the wings of saidplane being disposed in the same horizontal plane and provided at thecorners of their trailing edges1 with correspondingly curved aileronsformingparts of the plane and normally arranged Within the planethereof, said ailerons having movement in an upward direction onlyffroma normal position beyond the plane ofthe supporting surface beingindependent of operating connection with each other, and beingautomatically movable to normal position after actuation, and operatingmeans for moving said ailerons to a negative angle of incidence in anupward direction, said operating means operative for separately andindependently adjusting said ailerons.

2. A supporting surface for flying machines comprising an aeroplanehaving a lifting curvature in a fore-and-aft direction, said plane beingof oblong rectangular form and of greater length than width and havingits Wings disposed in the same horizontal plane and its lead andtrailing edges arranged in parallel relation, the trailing portions ofthe Wings of said plane being provided adjacent their lateral marginswith ailerons forming part of the plane and curved to conform theretoand normally arranged within the plane of said aeroplane, said aileronsbeing separate from and independent of operative connection with eachother, automatically movable after actuation to normal position, andoperable only in an upward direction from such position to a negativeangle of incidence relative lto the plane of the aeroplane, and meansfor sepa rately and independently moving each aileron in an upwarddirection to a negative angle of incidence as set forth.

3. A supporting surface for flying ma.- chines comprising an aeroplanehaving all of its portions disposed substantially in the same horizontalplane and formed with a fore-and-aft lifting curvature, said aero planehaving its trailing half provided with an inadjustable central portionhavinga limited degree of flexibility under Wing pressure, and aileronsat the lateral extremities of the trailing portion of greaterflexibility than said central portion and flexible in an upwarddirection only to a negative angle of incidence relative to the plane ofthe aeroplane, said ailerons being normally arranged in the plane of theaeroplane and curved to conform there-to and forming part thereof andautomatically movable to normal position after actuation and immovablebelow the plane of the aeroplane, and inea-ns for separately andindependently adjusting the respective ailerons.

4. A supporting surface for flying machines comprising `an aeroplanehaving all of its portions disposed substantially in the same horizontalplane and formed with a lifting foreandaft curvature, said aeroplanebeing provided with ailerons at the outer margins of the trailingportions thereof, said ailerons being normally arranged in the plane ofthe aeroplane and curved to conform. thereto and forming part thereofand being-immovable from a normal position below the plane of theaeroplane and movable in an upward direction only to a negative angle ofincidence above the plane of the aeroplane and adapted to automaticallyreturn to normal position after actuation, and means for independentlyoperai ing the. respective ailerons. said means embodying devices fortransmitting an upward pull to eachaileron, each of said devicesincluding branching connections coupled to the aileron on opposite sidesof the center thereof.

5. A supporting surface for flying machines comprising an aeroplanehaving all of its portions disposed Substantially in the same horizontalplane and formed with a lifting curvature in a fore-and-aft directionand having its trailing portion provided with ailerons at or near thelateral margins thereof, said ailerons being normally ar ranged in theplane of the aeroplane and 100 curved to conform thereto and formingpart thereof andbeing immovable downwardly 'from a normal position belowthe plane of the main plane and movable from a normal position in anupward direction only to a los negative angle of incidence relativetothe plane of the aeroplane` each aileron being adapted toautomatically return to normal position after actuation, and separateand independent levers and connections for sepa- Jie rately andindependently adjusting the respective ailerons.

6. A supporting surface for ilying n1achines comprising an aeroplanehaving all of its portions disposed substantially in the 'N5 samehorizontal plane and formed with a fore-andaft lifting curvature andhaving its trailing portion provided with ailerons at the lateralmargins thereof, said ailerons being normally arranged in the plane of120 the aeroplane and curved to conform thereto and' forming partthereof and immovable downwardly from a normal position below the planeof said aeroplane and movable in an upward direction only from a normalpo- 1-25 sition to a negative angle of incidence relative to the planeofthe aeroplane, each ail'- eren being adapted to automatically returnto normal position after actuation, and separate and independent leversand connections 130 for separately and independently moving saidailerons upwardly, said levers being arranged for instinctivecontrolling motions on the part of the operator.

7. A supporting surface for lying inachines comprising an aeroplanehaving all of its portions disposed substantially in the sainehorizontal plane and formed with a lifting curvature in a loreand-aftdirection, said aeroplane having its trailing portion provided withbisections on opposite sides of its center forming an inadjustableComparatively inflexible central trail portion and ailerons at thelateral margins of the wings of the aeroplane, said ailerons beingcurved to conform to and forming part of the structure of the aeroplaneand being normally arranged in the plane thereof, said ailerons beingimmovable from a normal position below the plane ol the aeroplane andmovable in an upward direction only to a negative angle of incidenceabove the plane of the aeroplane, and controlling devices for manuallyactuating the respective ailerons, said controlling devices beingarranged for separately and independently actuating said ailerons andcapable of transferring upward movement thereto only.

8. A supporting surface for flying machines comprising an aeroplane ofoblong rectangular form with all of its portions disposed substantiallyin the saine horizontal plane and having straight parallel leading andtrailing edges, the trailing portion of the plane having a downward andrearward curvature, and said trailing portion of the plane beingprovided in its Wing portions with fore-and-aft bisections, forming arigid and inflexible portion at the center of the aeroplane and flexibleportions at the lateral margins of the aeroplane, said ilexible portionsforming ailerons constituting a part of the aeroplane curved to conformthereto and normally arranged in the plane thereof, said ailerons beingimmovable in a downward direction below the plane of the aeroplane andmovable in an upward direction only to a negative angle of incidenceabove the plane of the aeroplane and antomatically movable to normalposition after actuation, and controlling devices for separately andindependently actuating the 'respective ailerons and operative Ylormoving said ailerons upwardly only and inoperative for moving themdownwardly.

9. A supporting surface for flying inachines comprising an aeroplanehaving all of its portions substantially in the same horizontal planeand formed with a foreand-aft lifting curvature, said aeroplane beingprovided with ailerons normally forming a part of said aeroplane andcurved to conform thereto and arranged 1n the plane thereof, saidailerons being movable in an upward direction only to a negative angleof incidence, and lexible up-pulling controlling connections forseparately and independently adjusting said ailerons in an upwarddirection only.

l0. A supporting surface for flying Inachines comprising an aeroplane ofoblong rectangular form having all of its portions disposedsubstantially in the same horizontal plane and formed with afore-and-aft lifting curvature, said aeroplane being provided withparallel leading and trailing edges, the trailing portion of saidaeroplane being downwardly and rearwardly curved, said trailing portionbeing bisected in a fore-and-aft direction between the center andlateral margins of the aeroplane and forming a central comparativelyinflexible portion 'and lateral flexible portions constituting ailerons,the said ailerons being movable only in an upward direction to anegative angle of incidence and immovable in a downward direction beyonda normal position below the plane of the aeroplane, said ailerons beingcurved to conform to and constituting integral parts of the planestructure, and separate and independent devices for adjusting saidailerons in an upward direction only and incapable of adjusting themdownwardly.

l1. A supporting surface for flying machines comprising an aeroplanehaving a fore-and-aft, downward and rearward lifting curvature, thewings of said aeroplane being disposed in a substantially horizontalplane and provided at the outer lateral margins of their trailing edgeswith correspondingly curved ailerons forming integral portions of theaeroplane and normally arranged within the plane thereof, said aileronsbeing independent of controlling connection with each other andadjustable vcrtically for stabilizing action from a normal position in asingle direction only1 beyond the plane of the aeroplane and inoperativein the reverse direction beyond the plane of the aeroplane, and meansconstrainedly op erative for separately and independently adjusting saidailerons.

12. A supporting surface for flying machines comprising an aeroplanehaving a fore-and-aft, downward and rearward lifting curvature, thewings of said aeroplane being disposed in a substantially horizontalplane and provided at the outer lateral margins of their trailing edgeswith correspondingly curved ailerons forming integral portions of theaeroplane and normally arranged within the plane thereof, said aileronsbeing independent of controlling connection with each other andadjustable vertically for stabilizing action from a normal position in asingle direction only beyond the plane of the aeroplane and inoperativein the reverse direction beyond the plane of the aeroplane. and meansconstrainedly operative for separately and independently In testimonywhereof I affix my signature adjusting said ailerons solely in thedirecin presence of two Witnesses.

tions of their movement beyond the plane REXFORD M. SMITH. of theaeroplane, said ailerons being auto- Witnesses:

maticall)``Y movable by nir pressure after E. E. YOUNG,

actuation back to normal position. C. C. HINES.

copies ot this patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by lddressingthe Commissioner of Patenti. Washington, D. C.

